Of the nine political parties that emerged following the death of the former military ruler, Sani Abacha, in June 1998, three won enough votes in local elections last December to qualify to take part in the transition to civilian rule.

None have published manifestos, or strong ideological positions. All have pledged - in mostly vague terms - to improve Nigerian living standards.
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The two presidential candidates have a good deal in common. Neither is a newcomer to Nigeria's complicated political scene. Both spent time in jail under the former military ruler, General Abacha, and were released shortly after his death.

Both are Christians standing for the presidency of a country with a large Muslim population. Both are Yorubas from the south-west of the country, where opposition to military rule has been strongest, and both have chosen northerners as their running mates.
Each of them has criticised Nigeria's expensive military involvement in Sierra Leone.

People's Democratic Party
The biggest party is the PDP - the People's Democratic Party - a coalition of veteran politicians, including several retired generals, many of whom opposed General Abacha. The PDP won a clear lead in local elections in December, prompting the other two parties - the Alliance for Democracy and All People's Party - into forming an electoral pact.

Alliance for DemocracyThe Alliance for Democracy draws its support from the Yoruba people in the south-west of the country, who've been at the forefront of calls for an end to military rule. The party came third in December's local elections, but swept the board in the south-west in both the local and state elections.

All People's PartyThe All People's Party is Nigeria's second largest, made up of wealthy business people and politicians, many of whom backed General Abacha and had helped campaign for his self-succession. It won about one quarter of seats in local elections. The success of the People's Democratic Party in December's local elections forced the All People's Party into an unlikely electoral alliance with the Alliance for Democracy. Although the two parties have little in common, they have agreed to field a joint presidential candidate, Olu Falae.
Divisions within the party are likely to harm it at the ballot box.

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